Hen Harrier
Northern Harrier
Circus cyaneus (Linnaeus, 1766)
Strigiceps cyaneus Bonp., 1850: Hristovich, 1890: 190.
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae
Conservation status: in Bulgaria: Critically endangered CR=A [1(a) + 4(a)] + B [1(a+c(iv)], BDA-II, III; International: CITES-II, IUCN–LC BeC-II, BoC-II, ECS-Spec 2, BD-I.
General distribution. A Holarctic species whose breeding area includes the western (in the east to Northern Spain and Portugal), the central and the northern parts of Europe, Central and Northern Asia and Northern America. It winters in the southern parts of Eurasia and Northern America. The Western European population is a permanent one.
Distribution and abundance in Bulgaria. A passage migrant, winter visitor and probably breeding species. In the past it was reported mainly for the eastern flat parts of the country and the Black Sea coast [1, 2]. At present, for the breeding period there have been observations in the Upper Thracian lowland, the Danube valley and Dobrudzha, but without any proof of breeding. Courting of 2 pairs was registered on 9 June 1997 near the village of Orizovo, Plovdiv region [3]. On 31 May 2002, two separate individuals were observed, near the town of Rakovski and near the village of Momino Selo, Plovdiv region, respectively [3]. In June 1998, in the northwestern part of the former Straldzha Swamp, 1 female was seen [3]. One bird was registered near the village of Kamen Bryag between 18 and 24 June 1997 [4]. Separate individuals and a pair were observed several times in the 1994–1996 period between the villages of Kashin, Kartozhabene and Tarnene, Pleven region [5]. The size of the breeding population in the country is between 0 and 6 pairs [3, 6]. The number of the wintering individuals in Bulgaria in the separate years varies from several tens [7] to several hundreds.
Habitats. Herbaceous associations, arable lands, stagnant freshwater basins with a permanent or seasonal nature.
Biology. The breeding biology in Bulgaria is unstudied. In other parts of the area the female lays 1-7 eggs in April – June. The nest is on the ground, amidst thick herbaceous or marsh vegetation, bushes, corn cultures [8]. During the breeding period it mainly feeds on small mammals (voles, mice) and birds, to a lesser degree on insects (grasshoppers), reptiles and amphibians, and on carrion in the winter [8].
Similar species. The Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus); Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus).
Negative factors. Loss of habitats, incorrect use of poisons when combating rodents.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species since 1962, included in the Red Data Book of Bulgaria (1985).
Conservation measures needed. Localization of the breeding habitats and determination of the number of breeding pairs. Studying the size, trends and habitats used by the population wintering in the country. Investigation of the area and the quality of the habitats, identification of the threats.
References. 1. Patev, 1950; 2. Dakov, 1985; 3. Iankov, in press; 4. Ornithological Database, BSPB, 2005; 5. Shurulinkov et al., 2005; 6. Nankinov et al., 2004; 7. Kostadinova, 1997; 8. Cramp, Simmons, 1980.
Authors: Svetoslav Spasov, Stoyan Ch. Nikolov
